ISO 11806-1:2022

Overview

ISO 11806-1:2022 specifies safety requirements and testing for portable, hand‑held, powered brush‑cutters and grass‑trimmers fitted with an integral combustion engine. The standard covers design, construction, hazard elimination or reduction, verification methods, and the information for safe use that manufacturers must provide. It applies to machines with mechanical power transmission to the cutting attachment and addresses hazards during intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse. It does not apply to multi‑piece metallic cutting attachments (e.g., pivoting chains or flail blades). ISO 11806-1:2022 is applicable to machines manufactured after its publication date.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 11806-1 organizes safety measures and verifications across the full machine, including:

• Handles, balance and harness - ergonomic and secure operator control to reduce loss of control and musculoskeletal risk.
• Cutting attachments and guards - strength, retention, guards and limits on flexible line length to prevent thrown objects and contact injuries.
• Clutch, throttle, engine start/stop - requirements for control positioning, operation and fail‑safe behavior.
• Fuel system and tanks - structural integrity, feed line strength and accessibility to reduce fire and leak risk.
• Protection against hot parts and high voltage - to prevent burns and electrical hazards.
• Noise and vibration - design reduction measures and measurement requirements to protect operators from long‑term harm.
• Electromagnetic immunity - to ensure controls function reliably near electrical disturbances.
• Marking, instructions and warnings - comprehensive information for safe operation, maintenance and transport; labels must pass durability tests.
• Normative test methods - including cutting attachment impact and spin tests, thrown‑objects testing, and fuel tank integrity procedures (see Annexes A–E).

Practical applications and who uses this standard

ISO 11806-1 is used by:

• Manufacturers and designers of portable brush‑cutters and grass‑trimmers to design compliant products and prepare technical documentation.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies to perform safety verification and type testing.
• Regulators and procurement teams specifying safety requirements for agricultural and forestry machinery.
• Safety engineers and product managers implementing risk reduction, labeling and user instructions.

Adopting ISO 11806-1 helps reduce operator injuries, product liability, and ensures consistent safety claims across markets.

Related standards

• Other parts of the ISO 11806 series (where published) and relevant ISO/IEC Directives for standards development.
• Complementary ISO and IEC standards on machinery safety, noise and vibration measurement, and labeling/marking (consult national bodies for specific references).

Keywords: ISO 11806-1, brush-cutters, grass-trimmers, safety requirements, portable hand-held, combustion engine, testing, manufacturers, standards.